Moments passed, and the twins found themselves deep in thought, trying to grasp the crux of the matter. Why did they trust each other so implicitly? Was it the isolation they had endured, fostering an unbreakable bond? Or perhaps their lack of interaction with the outside world made their trust in each other innate? While the answer eluded them, they remained certain of one thing: their trust in each other was unparalleled, and no outsider could ever earn such deep faith.
Seeing Clada lost in contemplation, Lorn chimed in, "Don't think too much. In time, you'll come to understand. And, when you're ready, I'd love to hear your tale. But that's a story for another day when we're both out of this island."
Clada had anticipated something of the sort, but having it confirmed still stirred a sense of excitement within him. However, he managed to keep his emotions masked; for the twins, the prospect of leaving the island had always been a dream. Despite this, they remained silent, their attention firmly on Lorn.
Lorn leaned back, settling into his chair. "Now, I'll explain how Animists use Nexa. You'd eventually come across this knowledge, but it's vital for you to understand its significance now, especially to grasp the value of what you possess," he said, gearing up for another detailed explanation.
Lorn refilled his cup and relaxed, posing the question, "How do you imagine Nexa?"
"You mentioned that it's an energy and that it's everywhere. So, perhaps something like fire... or air?" Clada assumed.
Lorn just shook his head. "Well, fire isn't strictly an energy on its own; it's more of a reaction. But for the sake of argument, let's say it is. When you place your hand in a fire, you will be harmed, meaning you've interacted with it." Without warning, Lorn made a swift hand movement, sending a brief gust of wind toward Clada. "Similarly with air, our physical bodies can interact with it."
Lorn elaborated, "What I'm saying is that Nexa isn't something you can touch or interact with using your physical body. The only entity that can even vaguely connect with it is the soul."
Catching on, Clada responded, "So, essentially, only living beings have the capability to tap into Nexa?"
Lorn scratched his head as he answered, "Well, it's both yes and no. There are items, known as artifacts, that can make use of Nexa. The thing is, these artifacts got souls, allowing them to interact with Nexa. But on the other hand, these artifacts can only be crafted by living beings, using the souls of other living beings."
Clada, connecting the dots, asked, "Is that the reason they were after my soul? To make an artifact with it?"
Lorn nodded in affirmation, "Yes. If you were just an ordinary person, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to capture you merely for a soul. they can get that anywhere. However, twin souls are unique, not just because they're rare, but the artifacts crafted using them are incredibly valuable."
Intrigued by the implications, Clada pressed on, "Just how valuable are we talking?" He was keen to gauge anything that could affect their survival.
Lorn leaned forward, "I'd enjoy going into that, but it involves unpacking other concepts that we don't have the time or setting to discuss right now. We'll talk about it later."
Clada gave a resigned nod, feeling slightly disappointed.
Taking another sip from his cup, Lorn shifted the topic, "Now, back to Nexa. As we established, only the soul can touch it. To do so, one must first become able to feel their own soul. Once they grasp they will learn to control it, the next step is to extend tendrils of their soul outward, gathering fragments of Nexa. Slowly, they amass it within their body, ready to use it when necessary."
Clada's brow furrowed in confusion. Had they really been using Nexa? They had never consciously gathered it or stored it within their bodies. Furthermore, they couldn't even "feel" their souls, let alone manipulate them. "If that's how it's done, then our experience doesn't align with that at all. We've never—" he began, only to be cut off by Lorn.
"Exactly," Lorn interjected, "Your way of using Nexa doesn't make any sense. From what I can see, you haven't even begun to sense your own souls. Yet, you control them with precision, even able to let a significant portion leave your body." His gaze shifted to the grey, human-shaped soul standing beside Clada.
He continued, "Ordinarily, people exert so much effort and focus on collecting Nexa, drawing from what they've stored when necessary. But you two? You spontaneously draw in huge amounts of Nexa and use it directly to enhance yourselves."
Lorn closed his eyes momentarily, then posed a question, "Do you understand the implications of that?"
Although the concept was new to Clada, he quickly grasped its significance, "So, you mean, we have an unending supply of Nexa, unlike others?"
Lorn's black eyes snapped open, a glint of excitement evident, "Precisely. In combat, you'd have monstrous endurance."
However, Clada was quick to counter, "If that was true, we would've just kept running from those guys. But we can't just enhance our body on a whim. And every time we do, there's a backlash — we're left debilitated for days afterward."
Lorn smiled, casually waving his hand. "All those issues can be solved once you start training the density of your soul," he said, finishing off his drink. "Earlier, I mentioned that what you know is even more valuable than your twin souls. It's the way you've mastered that much control over your souls, a control that even I haven't achieved yet."
Clada sighed, shaking his head. "As I said earlier, we didn't even know souls were a thing, let alone how we enhance our bodies using them. I don't have the knowledge you're seeking."
By acknowledging this, Clada was basically surrendering the very leverage that might be safeguarding their lives. Yet, by doing so, he was also gauging the nature of Lorn's character. And should things turn grim, Clada felt he now had a hint on how their unique enhancement worked, especially after learning about souls and Nexa.
Unaware of Clada's internal thoughts, Ren was taken aback by his twin's candid response. Yet, he had no choice but to trust Clada's judgment. After all, his twin wasn't one to act without reason.
Lorn continued to regard Clada, his face impassive. Then, breaking the silence, he erupted into laughter. "Kid, how long do you plan to test my intentions? I've told you I mean you no harm. And if you aim to outwit someone, remember the tactics you've used in the past."
He continued, a more serious note in his voice, "Even if you're unaware of the specifics, it doesn't matter to me. What I see is potential. What I propose is a deal. For now, you're too naive, and I wouldn't want you to feel duped later on. So, we can settle on the terms of the contract when the time's right."
Clada felt a flush of embarrassment, realizing Lorn had so easily seen through his intentions. Yet, what truly intrigued him was the mention of a contract. While he had a basic understanding of the term, he wasn't entirely sure what Lorn was implying.
Before Clada could voice his thoughts, Lorn rose from his seat. Holding out his palm, a stunning, blue-glowing pearl materialized. With a firm press, Lorn caused it to crack before tossing it to the ground. As it shattered completely, a brilliant blue flame erupted from its core, making Clada instinctively step back in astonishment.
Clada braced for the blue flames to engulf the treehouse, but contrary to his expectations, they remained stationary.
With a questioning look, Clada turned to Lorn. The man offered a reassuring smile and said, "Step through this portal, and on the other side, my friend will meet you there. She'll explain everything, help you find your bearings, and equip you with knowledge about the world. Take whatever belongings you wish."
Clada wore an expression of hesitation, but before he could voice any concerns, he felt a firm kick on his rear. Propelled forward into the blue flames, the last thing he heard before vanishing was Lorn's voice, "See you in six months, kid."
The moment Clada vanished, the blue flames dissipated, leaving no trace.
Lorn sighed, muttering to himself, "Now for the annoying part."